LETTER: Ulster County bus service is no service to those in need

I spent four years in Florida , mostly in Miami-Dade County, where they have the Golden Pass for disabled/seniors to ride for free on buses and trains.

I met a Cuban man there who said he voted for it because he was thinking of his mother. Apparently no one in New York City or New York state is thinking of their mother. Senior/disabled only get half fare. The service in New York City is adequate, but it often leaves seniors standing. But in Ulster County, they act as though they are doing a favor by providing a bus for you.

Why not provide those who work minimum-wage jobs and the disabled/elderly with at least adequate bus service? Gov. Andrew Cuomo could pay for it with the loose change in his pants pocket. I am told that it was said at a UCAT community meeting that they were no longer going to “cater” to seniors. Well, since when did they? They barely have a paratransit program in place. And they are not there to cater to anyone — they are here to “service” the community. That means everyone.

Their major concern is having the buses run on time and make connections that didn’t have to be made when they ran direct runs from Kingston Plaza, through the mall, to Saugerties years ago. Now they feel the need to make this “connection” at TechCity, where often you cannot wait for the bus in the rain and the cold until the next “connection” and where there are no bathrooms. Is that a plan?